The

Published by the Peter Underwood Centre May 25, 2020

Follow us on Facebook Discover Our red fun facts handfish has about : been named:

Page 2 www.facebook.com/ Page 2 UnderwoodCentre/ CATCH THE BUG A fascinating world surrounds those curious enough to look

A Royal Society of Tasmania Entomology GO ID card will provide interesting facts about the insects you discover.

BUG GIRL: Shasta Henry.

SHASTA Henry loves insects. even has a named after For Shasta it’s a case of what’s her. not to love? Hyboptera shasta was named “They are beautiful,” she says. after Shasta by American entomologist Dr Terry Erwin. “I am in awe of what tiny yet perfect working machines they Shasta worked as an intern for are. Dr Erwin at the Smithsonian Natural History Museum in “It is like holding a galaxy the Washington DC. size of a marble in the palm of your hand. “The beetle is about 1.5 centimetres long and lives in the “And I love how well they fit into canopy of the Amazon the environment; balanced as rainforest,” she says. key parts of ecosystems - it’s elegant.” You might know Shasta from her involvement in the Young Tassie Shiny, fluffy, colourful, angular, Scientists program, which links Share projects inspired by The Wonder Weekly with us. sleek and funny looking, Shasta University of Tasmania students Email: [email protected] is fascinated by all insects, but with primary and high school are her favourite. students during National Science IT’S EASY BEING GREEN: The golden , aurata, is commonly referred to in Tasmania as The PhD student in Entomology Week: youngtassiescientists.com at the University of Tasmania, the . Picture: iStock.com/ Redzaal. Continued Page 2 “Education perhaps more than anything else is a passport to a better life.” - Peter Underwood AC May 25, 2020 The Wonder Weekly P2

FUN FACTS And the winner about insects 1. About 75% of all are insects. 2. It is estimated there are 10 is... quintillion insects in the world. 3. Insects have: • A body divided into three parts - the head, thorax and abdomen. • No skeleton, instead they are protected by an external shell (exoskeleton). • No more than three sets of legs (six in total). • One pair of antennae on their heads. • One or two pairs of wings (but a few are wingless). Digit 4. The first insects were around the red about 400 million years ago. 5. Insects are (as are handfish crustacea such as crabs, and arachnida such as spiders). 6. Insects are the only arthropods PROFESSOR living, breathing handfish (but which can fly, which means they Finn is excited to announce don’t tell Professor Finn he is a can seek out new environments the winner of the Name the caricature), which the Peter Hobart, and the researchers and escape unsuitable places for Handfish Challenge. Underwood Centre has have established a database them to survive. With many great posters sponsored. of each individual and will be 7. Insects have adapted to nearly entered, judges had a tough This sponsorship will help tracking their movements. all environments on earth. task, but awarded first prize to scientists at the Institute for You can find out more about 8. Insects play important roles in Arlo Burns. Marine and Antarctic Studies, the Handfish Conservation most ecosystems as predators, It means that Arlo has been at the University of Tasmania, Project here: handfish.org.au parasites and pollinators. given the honour of naming the and the CSIRO, and others Laura Diprose (Best Drawing) 10. One third of the human food Peter Underwood Centre red working to save the rare fish. and Kasia Taylor (Best supply is crops dependent on handfish - Digit. There could be fewer than 100 Overall Poster) were other pollination by bees. red handfish in two areas near award winners. Digit, pictured above, is a Source: australianmuseum.net.au Shasta surrounded by a world of fascination

From Page 1 Some of Shasta’s earliest memories are of observing Or you may have heard her flowers, snails, leaves and the talking about her favourite topic shrimp in rock pools at Bridport, on ABC Radio. where she visited her Through her work to encourage grandmother on school holidays. curiosity and the importance of Her message to you is if you like insects, Shasta has become insects, that never has to quite well known as “Bug Girl”. change, and one day you could It is a title she picked for herself become an entomologist (a to build her online presence. scientist who studies insects). It has worked well, but she is “Part of my Young Tassie now looking forward to Scientists talk is that knowledge graduating “like a pokemon into is a pyramid, and that what you Bug Doctor”. know about insects now, is the Another project Shasta is same stuff that’s the base of my involved with is the Royal Society own pyramid,” Shasta says. of Tasmania Entomology GO “All you need is to love insects challenge: rst.org.au/etymology- and to want to know the truth go/ HONOUR: The beetle named after Shasta Henry. FIND: Native millipedes. about them, and keep going. Shasta wants you to GO and Remember that some insects Shasta says insects are “solar While not an , Shasta “You can study at University like discover some of the unique bite or sting, so look but do powered”, so they are not as found the millipedes, pictured I have, or just study insects for insects in your world. not touch. present in winter. above, last week. fun.” If you send her a photo or a Whether you send in images of But moths are still flying at night, “Their large, greenish and pale Shasta worked as a white-water drawing of your discoveries you the insects to the RST and are attracted by a porch bands mean these are native rafting guide before university. will receive an Entomology GO Entomology GO challenge or light, or you could look where species, not the black ID card and learn some more not, finding and observing insects live in cool, dark places Portuguese millipedes, but both “The tourism experience has wonderful facts about your insects is great fun, and insects all the time - under bark, rocks are harmless herbivores that turn been a big help with science insect. are everywhere. and logs. dead leaves into soil.” communication.”